Summit to Sea Films — Top 6 Reasons to Elope

Elopements are an intimate, meaningful way to commit your lives to each other in a way that is authentic to you. We no longer have to think of elopements as sneaking off to the courthouse to avoid societal and familial pressures. Couples are now choosing to have an authentic, meaningful wedding experience by eloping. They are choosing to spend one of the most important days of their lives focused on what matters – their relationship.

I’m so excited to share the top reasons couples choose to elope. The reasons are quite surprising and have nothing to do with the current pandemic we are all living in. I’ve listed the six biggest reasons couples choose to elope, so keep reading to learn more.

1. INTENTIONALLY FOCUS ON YOU AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP

The top reason couples choose to elope is to have a day that is focused on just the two of them. The big wedding industry pulls the focus of the day away from the couple. There are so many things going on and people vying for the couple’s attention that there is very little time to enjoy the day.

Elopements allow couples to focus on what matters. There are far less distractions and far more intimate and intentional moments. Couples are able to relax and be themselves without worrying about other peoples needs. There are certain moments in life where it is okay to be 100% selfish. Your wedding day is definitely one of those moments. It is your wedding day and it isn’t about anyone else.

Couples are also able to strip away a lot of the big wedding traditions that don’t align with their values. Almost every big wedding has set traditions. Most people don’t stop to think about why they are doing those things. For example, a big tradition is not seeing the bride before the wedding. This tradition stems from arranged marriages and not wanting the groom to see the bride before the ceremony so that he can’t get out of it. To me, that’s a bizarre tradition to keep in a wedding day. Do a first look instead. It’s far more intimate and still gives the “wow” moment of seeing your person for the first time.

Elopements afford couples the opportunity to really focus their wedding on how they want to spend it, even if it isn’t a “normal” wedding tradition.

2. AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE

The big wedding industry tells us what our wedding day is “supposed” to look like. Couples get pulled into the machine of it all. For some couples a big wedding day is the right answer, but for others it can feel overwhelming and not authentic to who you are as a couple. Elopements allow you to have an authentic wedding day that is focused on you and your relationship. You spend your lives together, why shouldn’t your wedding day be the same?

Elopements also allow you to get married in a less wasteful way. The wedding industry is a 7 billion dollar industry and produces around 1 billion pounds of trash per year. The average wedding in 2019 cost $38,700 and produced 400 pounds of trash*. Weddings are full of stuff that is thrown away afterwards – the decorations, food, drinks, florals & decor, wedding clothes, and wedding favors.

A common misconception about eloping couples is that they are doing it to save money. While budget comes into play, it’s not in the way you think. Couples who are eloping see the value in spending their money on an experience that is authentic to them. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding that doesn’t feel authentic to you, go on an amazing trip together and elope in a place you’ve always wanted to visit or go on your favorite hike and spend the day together being yourselves.

*According to WeddingWire 2019 data.

3. LESS FAMILY DRAMA

Couples choose to elope to avoid the inevitable drama that comes along with having family involved. The more family that is involved in your wedding day, the more drama there will be. Everyone has their own opinions on how you should do things, but it is your wedding day. Not theirs.

For many couples, there are other family dynamics that come into play. If you have an unsupportive family, your wedding day is going to be a traumatic experience. You deserve to have a 100% safe and judgement-free wedding day. If that means that family shouldn’t be involved, so be it.

Even for couples who have a very loving and supportive family, wedding traditions can be difficult to navigate. Traditions are steeped in family – father walking daughter down the aisle, father-daughter & mother-son dances, etc. – and for couples who have divorced parents or step parents that play an important role in their lives, it can be an awkward situation to have to exclude someone from one of these traditions.

A lot of couples feel pressured into having a big wedding by their family. You deserve to spend one of the most important days of your life in a way that is authentic to you. If that means eloping, then don’t settle for someone else’s dream for you.

4. RELAXED & STRESS FREE

Another big reason couples choose to elope is to have a relaxed and stress free wedding day. There is so much stress that comes with planning and hosting a wedding. Initially, planning a wedding can be fun – picking the wedding colors and theme, to looking at pretty flowers and cakes, to finally being able to try on that dress you’ve looked at for so long. But then comes the real planning – guests lists, catering counts, who makes it into the bridal party, venues, hotels that will fit 150+ guests, dress and tux fittings, wedding showers, bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, open bar or cash bar, wedding insurance, receipts, thank you cards, etc. By foregoing a big, traditional wedding, couples are able to eliminate a lot of the stress that comes with making these decisions.

Elopements do require planning and they aren’t last minute, thrown together events. You can plan as much or as little as you want. In fact, because there are far less items to plan for an elopement, you can put more thought into the items that you really care about.

Another big stress factor comes from being the center of attention. This can be a terrifying thing for introverts and ambiverts. Having to say your vows in front of so many people can be intimidating and awkward. Elopements give you the chance to be yourselves on your wedding day and say what you really want to say.

5. ADVENTURE

Couples choose to elope because they believe life is an adventure. Adventure isn’t just about hiking or skydiving, it’s also about taking the path less traveled. It’s knowing that the view at the top of a mountain is 10x better when you worked really hard to get there. Eloping allows adventurous couples to look back on their wedding day and know that the climb was worth it.

Couples who elope can also incorporate adventure into their wedding day. Hiking to the top of a mountain and finding a secluded spot to say your vows is such an intimate and memorable experience. You can take things up a notch and incorporate base jumping or skydiving or climbing into your wedding day. Whatever you want to do on your wedding day, do it.

For the couples who see life as a grand adventure, it only makes sense that the way they begin their lives together should be with an adventure, too

6. AMAZING PHOTOS

It’s a common misconception in the wedding industry that couples who elope don’t care about their wedding day or their wedding photos. This is false. Couples who elope care SO MUCH about things that matter to them and know the value of documenting their memories.

I’ve talked about this before, but your elopement IS your wedding day and you deserve just as much coverage, if not more, as a traditional wedding. Photos are how you will share your day with your family and friends and it’s what you’ll look back on forever to remember your best day. (If you want to read more about this, click here)

Big, traditional weddings force you into 30 minutes of uncomfortable poses that don’t show your real selves. During an elopement, there is none of that. Just real, authentic moments of you being yourselves. I get to share the full story of your day in your true element.

If an elopement sounds like the type of wedding that is right for you, I’d love to help you create your best day!